“I’m back y’all … and I’m coming back next season with a vengeance.” The comeback statement couldn’t have equaled any other in its power punch (might we add vengeance packed).  For Lakers’ star Christian Wood, the 2023-24 season was abruptly cut short after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee. But he wanted to ensure that he gets a sweeping welcome from fans for the upcoming season. This led to a bold statement on his Instagram story. But not everything goes as planned. The star received a wave of trolls from netizens, much to his chagrin and dismay.

The previous season, Wood averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. His accurately shot 46.6% from the field and 30.7% beyond the arc. Then Wood’s world turned upside down following the knee injury in March. Wood went from delivering impressive performances for the Houston Rockets to being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2022. where he was largely benched. Now, he’s at the Lakers roster as free agent, another chapter in his NBA journey.

The previous season fell short of providing the momentum he was pushing for, with the surgery setback. However, Wood looks determined to bury the past and spring back to action. He wanted to make a bold proclamation for the grand season start but the Internet had other plans!

Will the upcoming season mark Christian Wood’s return to form, and is the online backlash justified?

As LeBron James’ illustrious career nears its twilight, the Lakers have been on the lookout for the perfect center. Christian Wood provided that glimmering hope. However, Wood’s injury troubles put the Lakers in a tough spot. A lot depends on Wood’s comeback and his ability to reclaim is pre-injury form. And Wood’s Instagram post should’ve infused the Lakers with much-needed confidence. However, fans reactions say otherwise.

One of the netizens mockingly wrote, “respect bro. double cheese burger with no onions curly fries and a vanilla shake. preciate it.” This was in response to a viral photo of the Lakers star when he was captured in his casual black hoodie look donning shades with headphones in hand. Fans clearly didn’t appreciate him strolling down the streets. It appeared they immediately wanted him to get back to the court. The benching reference was also not lost on the fans. One of them said, “What bench is he coming back to with vengeance? 😝” Another netizen wrote, “the bench is shaking right now“. Some of the fans even went to the extent of not remembering that he’s a player anymore. “Who … what … huh?”

The 28 year old’s time in Houston was not only the longest but also his career-best so far. It was with the Mavericks that things took a bad turn. He was benched for the majority of games. Wood averaged only 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Wood then transitioned to the Lakers to prove himself and be in the company of greats like LeBron and Anthony Davis. With the injury-riddled first season, his best didn’t come.

“Loved my first year playing for my Hometown team, I wish I wasn’t hurt majority of the season, But all in all it was a dream come True for me.. I will be better and 100% healthy next season,” Wood said in an X post. Wood’s insistence that the injury wouldn’t dampen his performance in the coming season shows determination on his part. But will this translate to the court? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.